The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-11-05
HOME, FARM, AND GARDEN.
Talks with the Farmer, Orchards,
e,ock. Breeder, Poulterer, and
Housekeeper.
Hints on House Decorations, Kitchen
Economy, and the Preserya-
ton Of Health.
THE FARM.


As rule, pastures in this country re-
ceiye little or no care. No crop gets less
attention, vet none would respond more
quickly to good care. Much attention has
been given to premium crops of corn,
wheat, potatoes, the improvement of
horses, cattle, sheep, and swine; even
poultry are encouraged by liberal premi-
ums; but We seldom hear of premium
crop of grass. 1t seems practical 10 double
the present yield without an outlay at all
corresponding to the increased value of
the crop. Is there any good reason why
farmer should not bestow as much care i'll
selecting the proper seeds, and III the
after treatment of meadows, as he would
in selecting or breeding and raising a
ShCrthorn bull calf or Merino lamb?
Grass should not be pastured IN very
early spring, before the ground settles and
the sod becomes firm. by this early pas
turing the tops are kept closely cut of,
the roots are injured, from which the grass
does not recover for whole year. To
gain and thrive the grass needs some green
leaves as much rs "A horse needs fresh air
and stomach to digest liberal allowance
of food. If cut frequently and kept short,
like ike grasses of the lawn, the roots will
not make the same size and extent of
growth as when the stalks and leaves have
free development. The roots depend as
much ON the leaves as the latter does on
the roots. Pastures should not be allowed
to grow very long in spring without feed
ing, as the culms lun up the blossom and
make a growth distasteful to all kinds of
stock BY movable fences or otherwise 1t
is good plan TO feed off piece rather
closely, let it get start, and then feed of
again evenly.
cheap CattIe Sheds.
nf In n
n local paper: 1t ought 10 be settled be-
yond dispute that it pays to provide good
shelter for all the stock on the farm. i he
sulest plan, as far as possible, IS to pro-
vide for this ahead of the time when 1T
may be wanted. OF course, when ii can
be done, good barns that are warm and
tight are best. If this cannot be done,
board sheds can be made to answer, and If
even this cannot be afforded, then we must
fall back upon pole sheds covered either
with straw, begasse, or corn-fodder. II
to be made of straw, considerable time can
be saved and often better work be secured
if the shed frames are built convenient to
the wheat and oat sticks, SO that when the
thrashing is done the sheds can be covered
bv little planning and thus very COM
Portable sheds can be provided. When 1t
can be done the north, east, and west ends
should be closed in. If any part is left
open let it be the south side. Make the
shed high enough so stock can stand under
it mfortably, and large enough to give
plenty of room. Posts set well into the
ground with strong poles reaching from
one to another. Unless extra heavy
timbers are used they should not be more
than eight feet apart between posts. Ten
feet wide is enough for sheds. Cover with
lighter poles or rails. If you have only
small amount of straw, or wish TO econo-
mize as much as possible, double row of
posts on the sides intended to be closed in,
say a foot apart, and then rails or strips
nailed TO these and the space between filed
with straw, with good roof on top, VIII
make very warm shed. Care should be
taken to tramp well and also TO have the
straw reach over well, or in settling too
much ventilation will be provided. BY
building so that it can be covered with
straw when you are thrashing such she'd
need not cost much, and good shelter
will be provided that will aid very ma
terally in keeping the stock comfortable
and at the same time will save feed. 1t IS
q heavy draft upon the vitality to force
stock to remain out exposed to all kinds of
weather. We must expect them to fail in
flesh rapidly or feed very heavily in order
to avoid this. Ev n good straw sheds will
go n long way toward avoiding this, and
when we know before hand what to expect
the most economical plan is 10 make ar
engagements for providing shelter when 1t
can be done to the best advantage.